LINEAR ACCELERATOR
A linear accelerator (LINAC) is a type of radiation unit commonly used to deliver external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. External beam radiation therapy is a method for delivering a beam of high energy X-rays to a patient’s tumor. The beam is generated outside the patient’s body and targeted at the tumor site. A linear accelerator delivers a uniform dose of high energy X-rays to the region of the patient’s tumor. These X-rays can destroy the cancer cells while allowing normal surrounding tissue to be spared.

Radiation treatments at Southwest Veterinary Oncology are administered via a 6 MeV linear accelerator with surface electron capability. The advantage of this radiation unit is the versatility allowed in the treatment of various tumors including those of the skin and subcutis overlying the cranium, chest and abdomen. Veterinary patients must be anesthetized for treatments to keep them still. Patient safety is very important. During treatment, the patient is continuously monitored through a closed-circuit television and state-of-the-art physiologic monitors.

GAMMA CAMERA
Radionuclide imaging or nuclear imaging is a technique that allows clinicians to obtain images of various body systems. To obtain these images, tiny amounts of radioactive materials (called "tracers") are introduced into the patients’ body, usually by intravenous injection. The “tracers” emit a certain type of energy called gamma rays which are detected by a device called a gamma camera. Individual images can be acquired rapidly into a computer memory which can then build up a set of images to detail the distribution of radioactivity in a patient. This distribution of radioactivity relates to the pathophysiology of a patients’ disease condition.
Nuclear medicine at Arizona Veterinary Specialists, with a state-of-the-art digital gamma camera, can aid in the diagnosis of portocaval (liver) shunts, identification and treatment planning of hyperthyroidism in cats, and identification of bone lesions.

CT SCANNER
A CT (computed tomography) scan is a special radiographic test that uses a computer to produce detailed cross-sectional images or "slices" of parts of the body. CT can "see" inside the brain, and other parts of the body, into areas that cannot be visualized on regular X-ray examination. CT makes it possible to diagnose certain diseases earlier and more accurately than with other imaging tools.

Anesthesia is required for veterinary patients undergoing CT imaging. The length of time is relatively short (<45 minutes) and patients are well monitored during the procedure.

Arizona Veterinary Specialists features a helical, or spiral, CT scanner. The major advantages of helical CT over conventional CT include more rapid acquisition of images, higher degree of lesion detection, better lesion characterization and decreased anesthesia time for the patient.

For more information about CT scans, see Arizona Veterinary Imaging

RADIOGRAPHY AND ULTRASOUND
X-rays and ultrasound are an important part of the evaluation of the cancer patient. Arizona Veterinary Specialists boasts a state-of the-art digital radiology system with two X-ray units and computers in numerous exam rooms for viewing of radiographic images.

Meet our radiologist at Arizona Veterinary Imaging